Imagine that a deep temperate zone lake did not "turn over" during the spring and fall seasons. Based on the physical and biological properties of limnetic ecosystems, what would be the difference from normal seasonal turnover?
A) The lake would be uniformly cold during the winter and summer.
B) The lake would fail to freeze over in winter.
C) An algal bloom of algae would result every spring.
D) Lakes would suffer a nutrient depletion in surface layers.
E) The pH of the lake would become increasingly alkaline.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Normally, during seasonal turnover, nutrient-rich deep water rises to the surface and nutrient-poor surface water sinks to the bottom. This process replenishes nutrients in the surface layers of the lake, which is essential for the growth of phytoplankton and other organisms. In the absence of turnover, nutrient depletion would occur in the surface layers, leading to a decrease in productivity of the lake ecosystem.

Imagine That a Deep Temperate Zone Lake Did Not "Turn